Rainy Days of Portland

For the most part this blog has been about celebrating the sunshine and rainbows that we have found in and around Portland.  (And by sunshine and rainbows, I mean beer and wine!)  But there are times of rain here too - not like downpours with crashing thunder and exploding lightning - but droplets here and there.  And the reality of any life, any marriage and any person is that before the rainbow some rain must fall.

So, our rain lately has been about how to juggle two career-minded individuals' schedules, ambitions, dreams and a sum of student loan debt that looks more like the mortgage attached to a McMansion.  We keep trucking along remembering to check-in with each other, ensuring it's not raining harder in one person's world than the others.  And at times like these it's nice to draw upon previous rainbows and soak up the sunshine as it continues to appear!

This is only part of the table from this evening and I took the photo so I could remember the moment because in the background Dido was singing "...And I want to thank you for giving me the best days of my life!" 
Great night with family and good friends!

 

A lot of sunshine in this one!

And when all else fails....

What do your rainy days looks like and how do you ensure sunshine is around the corner?

26.

I am 26 now.  My husband claims that at times those numbers might be inverted and in fact I have tendencies better associated with someone who is 62!  As in, I woke up on a "day-off" recently and worked the entire morning and part of the afternoon away and proudly proclaimed  "this morning has been just a bear!"  I still swear I didn't use that term but he insists.

Or after shopping at Dicks Sporting Goods one evening and coming home empty-handed, because the running jacket that I had wanted was not in my size, I decided to look online.  And for those of you wondering, their website is http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/.  Not a shorter, more (or less) obvious version of that URL that insists an out-cry of; "OH MY GOODNESS!" 

And so sometimes I'm 62 and sometimes I'm still 21 - although this birthday landed me in no bushes, on no stages and falling down no hills (AM I growing up??) - and sometimes I think I am as wide-eyed as a 6 year old and as naive as a 2 year old so I borrow words from Christina as to what my "26" looks like! 

I AM



"I am timid and

I am oversensitive

I am a lioness

I am tired and defensive

You take me in your arms

And I fall into you

I have insecurities

You show me I am beautiful

My best "lioness" photo.  I think Shay may be more lioness here though, protecting the crowd (cubs?) from my dancing?

Love me or leave me

Just take it or leave it

It's not that I'm needy

Just need you to see me

 Take me, free me, see through to the core of me

Take me, free me, there will be no more pretending

I am temperamental and

I have imperfections and

I am emotional

I am unpredictable

I am naked

Best 'naked looking photo' I could find.  This might also go under the category of 'acting 21!'

I am vulnerable

I am a woman

I am opening up to you

Love me or leave me

Just take it or leave it

It's not that I'm needy

Just need you to see me

Why?  Because this looks like a damn good Birthday morning to me.  'Andy coffee' and Sour Patch Kids.

Take me, free me, see through to the core of me

Take me, free me, there will be no more pretending

Now I stand before you with my heart in my hands

I'm asking you to take me just the way that I am

Please lay down your arms, do you know me?

Make me feel safe from harm

Take me, free me, see through to the core of me

Take me, free me, there will be no more pretending

A 'wine-eyed' birthday girl complete with Birthday Sticker.... Thanks, Auds!

 I am temperamental and

I have imperfections and

I am emotional

There'll be no more pretending"

Momentum.

Ok, I can't claim this post as my own.  I have to give props to Kelle Hampton because I initially set out to discuss how I wanted the status quo for 2011.  I wanted my life to keep building on what 2010 gave me, I wanted all that I have and if nothing could change then that's ok.  But, her words changed that.

She reminded me that I became more this year- and her words sure made me smaller.  But, I did become a wife (must officially change my name this year!).  I became my own family.  And as long and as hard as I have thought about what I want for 2011, what I really want is the status quo. But, at that same time I can't be scared of what is to come in 2011.

On the day of our wedding, I promised Andy a 'good enough marriage.' Because I had read that in psychiatry, the term 'good-enough parent' describes one who loves their child well enough for him to grow into an emotionally healthy adult. The goal is mental health, defined as the fortitude and flexibility to live one's own life in pursuit of constant growth - not happiness.

My thought was that if we could build a 'good enough marriage' - one that allows us to keep growing and affords us the strength and bravery required to face the world - the happiness would surely follow.

So, in 2011 I hope to continue the growth that exists in our marriage and our life today.

May we all have more...

Love.

Family.

Laughter

Friends!

Emotion.

Adventure.

And a few more things that I have no words for.

Ok, there's just one.  But, it's a good reminder for me to not be scared to build on the momentum established in 2010 while welcoming the ups and downs that will come our way.  So, here's to our "good enough" life!

CHEERS!

Something Old, Something New...

The theme of our year, became the theme of our Christmas.  As many of you know, we made the tough decision to stay in Oregon for the holidays due to a busy year leaving us a little short.  Short of time off work, short of funds and slightly short of energy!  So, we decided to make the most of what might very well be a one-of-a-kind Christmas with just us :)!

We began our festivities on Christmas Eve with something new... baking together.  We baked our old favorites from back home and filled a Christmas platter full of goodies!

From there we visited Moonstruck Cafe and tried something new; rich hot chocolate (that you can only justify on Christmas) and delicious truffles.  I'm pretty sure our Christmas bliss was contagious when the kind girl at the counter offered us adorable truffles as a gift for coming in on Christmas Eve.  I believe Andy's words were "It's a Christmas Miracle!"  With a familiar sugar high in tow, we headed to downtown Portland to check out Christmas lights.

Christmas Miracle? 

Christmas in Portland.  Not quite the Winter Wonderland that we enjoy in Iowa!

We ended our evening cashed in front of an old favorite, The Muppet Christmas Carol!

Christmas morning came bright and early as Andy's eyes opened with excitement around 6 am ready to exchange gifts.  We enjoyed Andy's mom's breakfast casserole before exchanging gifts with each other and my family via Skype!  After a Christmas nap, we were excited to Skype with Andy's family - some in Hudson, Ia and some in Michigan.  So fun to see everyone even if it is through a computer!

Our evening ended with Oregon wine (a new tradition?), a delicious dinner and tons of laughter (VERY old traditions!).  How blessed we have been this year. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A Very Merry "Sour Patch" Christmas...

A few highlights from the weekend in a quick end-of-the-week post meant to level out my lengthy last week post.

Gingerbread houses with Sour Patch Kids as their inhabitants.

A crazy Holiday Ale Fest and "when in rome..." you eat the food cart food being served.  A chicken sausage with who knows what on top... I told them to give me "the fixin's!"

CHEERS!

Happy to be done...

Thankful.

I am thankful this year.

Ok, that's an understatement. 2010 has been a monstrosity of a year for Mr. & Mrs. Wendling. We became just that (among a million other things). But I think the way we spent our weekend really summarizes all the things that I am thankful for.

I am thankful for my husband and his smoking skills. Check out this turkey and T-giving spread.



Well, my skills are also important, yes? I mean who else can drink (chug?) wine and pull off a pink and paisley apron?
That last picture leads me to my next point. I am thankful for this amazing adventure that we are on that allows us the opportunity to explore beautiful places like this:
Seriously, that is not a stock image. We visited this vineyard among others on Friday as the local wineries have "barrel parties" over Thanksgiving weekend. These left us with an overflowing wine rack - oops!

And finally we explored Seattle by foot. We both finished the Seattle Half-Marathon. And I am so thankful that we are both healthy, able-bodied individuals who can complete such a feat.

Andy did great at his first race of this distance and I did ok all things considered (I had that broken toe 6-week ago - ughh!). And though I don't have photos of us running because, well, we were running. I do have some cool photos of Seattle so enjoy!

I look photoshopped into the above photo, I know. But how cool is the market at Christmas?


Can you spot the Space Needle with a Christmas tree on top?

Final thoughts as I wrap up this lengthy entry.

1. We are ever so thankful for our families and for those friends who are like our families. We miss you like crazy. Every. Single. Day. But thank you for letting us have these adventures and we promise that one year soon we'll be home for all the holidays!
2. Happy Anniversary to my husband! 6 Months already!
3. Welcome to your 20's, Mags. Live. It. Up.

P.S. If you are ever in Seattle and need to carb-load. Might we recommend Il Bistro? Not sure there could be a cooler atmosphere. (Ok, maybe in Italy.)